Monday, Aug 1, 2011, 2:02 pm

Wis. Democrats are leading GOP opponents in some of the recall races, but those opponents have erected some barriers to victory: namely, a new voter ID law and redefined districts. (midwestdemocracynetwork.org)

Heading toward eight remaining recall elections, Wisconsin labor and Democrats gained critical momentum on July 19 as they scored an overwhelming 66-31 percent victory in Green Bay against GOP efforts to punish Democratic State Sen. Dave Hansen, a friend of labor. The remaining elections—called for after the GOP stripped public employees of virtually all bargaining rights this winter and activists occupied the Madison Capitol in protest—will be held August 9 (when six Republicans are up) and August 16 (when two other Democrats face recall efforts).

Over the past two months, Republicans’ claims to be guided solely by budgetary concerns and taxpayer needs have been tainted by their participation in a set of undemocratic measures, including partisan gerrymandering of state legislative districts, and what Common Cause of Wisconsin director Jay Heck called “the most restrictive, blatantly partisan and ill-conceived voter identification legislation in the nation” (details on these measures below).

But labor and progressives feel encouraged by the most recent polls on the recall races, especially in the context of Gov. Walker’s 59-percent disapproval rating reported July 13. Daily Kosreported poll results last week:

Taken in concert with our last round of polling (conducted a month ago), PPP shows Democrats with a big lead in one race, narrow leads in two races, and trailing by five points or less in three races. In this newest batch, Democratic state Rep. Fred Clark has a small edge against Luther Olsen, which makes this race one of our three best pickup opportunities. Clark's own internal polling confirms this, showing him ahead as well (by an even larger margin).

In one of the hottest and most closely-watched recall elections (in a northern Milwaukee suburban area that includes many of the area’s super-rich as well as teachers and other public employees and an African-American neighborhood), Daily Kos noted that Democratic challenger Sandy Pasch is probably running a much tighter race than it first appears against GOP Senator Alberta Darling.

Darling formerly posed as a pro-choice “moderate” before guzzling the entire right-wing Kool-Aid pitcher to gain power as co-chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee which rammed though the Republcians' worst excesses.

Yesterday on Kos there was a new new PPP [Public Policy Polling] poll for the WI recall election in Senate District 8 between Republican Alberta Darling and Democrat Sandy Pasch. It has Darling up 5 points with almost no undecideds. Since a recent Dem poll had Sandy up one, this is a disappointment. At least at first glance. However, a closer look reveals the same concerns that were raised with the previous PPP poll in SD 8. It appears that this poll also under-represents the strongest Pasch voters in the district: non-whites from the City of Milwaukee.

Moreover, while the polling result is among “likely voters,” the pro-labor, pro-Democratic side has displayed far more intensity in seeking to reverse the course of Wisconsin politics.

GOP'S UNPOPULAR BAGGAGE

Further, with the Republican-contrived primaries over (they recruited fellow Republicans to run against Democrats in order to delay and sow considerable confusion about recall process), the public can now focus on clear-cut choices between Democratic candidates with demonstrated followings and Republican senators whose reputations have been tarnished.

The Republican baggage includes:

their extraordinary anti-union votes,

their support for an exceptionally punitive budget toward local public education and services, and

their collaboration with the most dictatorial procedures and anti-democratic legislation that the Wisconsin Legislature has witnessed in more than a century.

While the Republicans carry this weighty political baggage, “the Democrats have a muscular slate of primary winners (three state representatives, a former county executive, a former deputy mayor and a popular teacher) heading into the Aug. 9 recall races with the Republican senators,” as John Nichols of the Capital Timesobserved.

Meanwhile, against Democratic Sen. Jim Holperin, the Republicans in northern Wisconsin are fiielding Tea Party darling Kim Simac, noted for her pronouncsments including, “If you teach evolution, then why not creationism? Why not put a cross in a school? Why not talk about Easter in our schools?”

In the southeastern industrail area around Kenosha, the Republicans are trying to recall popular State Sen. Bob Wirch, a former United Steelworkers union local president, with corporate lawyer Jonathan Seitz, whose efforts in behalf of his clients are likely to yield some interesting revelations.

THREE CHALLENGES: GERRYMANDERING, VOTER ID LAW, TV AD BOMBARDMENT

The redistricting plan is perceived as a nakedly partisan power grab by the Republicans. Although Democrats have won the last five presidential elections in Wisconsin by a 53.4 percent margin, according to State Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee), an expert on re-districting, the GOP plan—which would go into effect next year—would establish between 57 and 59 safe Republican seats in the 99-member State Assembly, with just 40 to 42 safe Democratic seats.

For Bob Turner, my longtime friend, staunch labor advocate and Democratic representative from Racine, the plan is reminiscent of the kind of the corrupt politics he saw growing up in Mississippi as an African-American:

I grew up in Mississippi where access to the ballot and redistricting was a problem. I never thought we would be dealing with this in Wisconsin. In all my years I have never seen a redistricting process go so poorly. So many people have given their lives, have marched, protested for rights to the ballot and fair representation.

Good-government groups, normally a bit cautious in their rhetoric about possible partisan motivations in legislative proposals, were absolutely scathing in denouncing the Republican plan. Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign similarly pointed to the Republicans’ naked self-interest evident in the plan. McCabe declared:

In a democracy voters are supposed to choose their representatives, not the other way around. This does violence to this basic principle of democracy... “You are only here because you are under orders to get this completed ahead of the recall elections in August, because you know you could lose total control over the way these maps are redrawn after those recall elections occur.

Former Wisconsin Democratic Congressman David Obey, with his characteristic directness, labeled the plan as “a raw manipulation of power in defiance of the public interest.”

The voter ID plan has been denounced in similar terms by labor and progressives for adding barriers to voting for the poor, people of color and the low-income elderly. (See my article in In These Times' September issue, which will appear at InTheseTimes.com next week). And its credibility is fast disappearing with media reports that the Walker administration is considering closing down or reducing hours at Department of Motor Vehicle offices in Democratic districts.

Almost none of the cumbersome new voting requirements will be in place for the recall elections, but their potential impact is firing up labor and progressives across Wisconsin, rightly worried about a return to large-sacle voter suppression (see here and here.)

Finally, the money question: Labor and its allies must be prepared for a last-minute aerial bombardment of TV ads launched by the Club for Growth and other corporate-funded entities who have been freed of almost all constraints on disclosure and size of donations by the 2010 Citizens United decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, which opened the door for “a corporate takeover of U.S. democracy,” in the words of scholar Noam Chomsky.

While the left is at a financial disadvantage, it has managed to maintain a strong presence with TV ads contrasting the Republicans’ attacks on middle-class living standards, public education and tax justice with the Democrats advocacy in behalf of working people (although the explicitly pro-collective-bargaining edge of most ads has been a bit fuzzy).

Adding it all up, right now the labor movement, progressives and their Democratic allies in Wisconsin have momentum, highly energetic and well-organized local and statewide efforts on the ground (see my recent piece on the "Wisconsin Truth Tour"), an increasingly powerful presence on TV, and most of all, a base of exceedingly motivated volunteers and voters.

Roger Bybee is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and University of Illinois visiting professor in Labor Education.
Roger's work has appeared in numerous national publications, including Z magazine, Dollars & Sense, The Progressive, Progressive Populist, Huffington Post, The American Prospect, Yes! and Foreign Policy in Focus.
More of his work can be found at zcommunications.org/zspace/rogerdbybee.

No, Mr. Curley, it is your logic that has flaws. First, you would be strecthing "good faith" quite a bit. Instead, the Unions strong arm the state into those wages and EXTREMELY plentiful benefits and retirement. Everyone else contributes (now they do as well). The bottom line is, we cannot afford it. Period. Thats where the logic starts. It is not like our teachers are World Class, either.
Having more teachers in the classrooms would be great and in Milwaukee COunty where collective bargaining meant teachers didn't have to contribute to retirement meant many lost their jobs. When asked if they would be willing to contribute a small percentage (much less than private sector workers do) they said NO. So they chose to hurt both collegues and students, not to "help educate".
Liberal fiscal policy and Mr. Obama were given a huge show of "no faith" when the market crashed again. Again, botom line, we need better fiscal policy.
Andy,
Your stats are wrong and intentionally misleading. Most states had an uptick last month in unemployment, due to Mr. Obama. But lets look at REAL stats (http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z1ebjpgk2654c1_&met_y=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST550000&fdim_y=seasonality:S&dl=en&hl=en&q=wisconsin+unemployment+rates)
When Doyle took office, unemployment was 5.5%. When he left, it was 7.4%. Now, 6 months in, it is 7.6% However, I will be happy to look at it again in 7.5 years and do a true comparison. And lets be honest, unemployment trends run the same acroos all states over time. Heck, go to that chart and click on some other states or the national rate. The patterns are all the same. That shows most short term trends are caused by national policy, not states (states tend to control more ho close they are to the average line). In any case, your stats are worthless right now.Posted by Brian Spa on 2011-08-09 10:40:04

Mr Spa ,your logic is wrong headed,in my humble opinion.All teachers are required to have a 4 year degree at minumum.To gain a higher salary,they most get a Masters degree,which I assure you,is not inexpensive.They have chosen a field wherein they can help educate and mold our children,and help them reach their full potential.The pay these teachers recieve is well below what others possesing a Masters degree might earn,and unlike Wall street employees,they are making major contributions to our society as a whole,rather then simply making money to satiate their monetary needs.Their contracts were negotiated in good faith ,with both sides negotiating the fairness of their contracts.Mr. Walker has acted,in concert with hid Republican state legislature to discontinue to act in good faith ,and it has been well documented his remarks made to a Koch imposter.The people will speak as to your ascertations that it has been a "huge success.Posted by Chris Curley on 2011-08-09 10:00:42

People voted for Walker because they thought he would work on getting people employed. During Walker's first six months in office, unemployment did not drop at all. It actually rose by +8,453 more unemployed people. No bills were placed to improve the economy. The five months prior to Walker, when a Democratic Governor was in office, unemployment decreased 0.7%% points or -21,420 people unemployed. The Democrats work to eliminate unemployment. The Republicans work to help the Koch brothers. See comparison below: Walker’s first six months (Jan, 2011 to June, 2011) to Democratic Governor’s last six months in office (July 2010 to Dec, 2010). The downward unemployment trend is stalled once Walker becomes Governor.
Unemployment Rate % Unemployed # Unemployed
June 2011 7.6% 234,436
May 2011 7.4% 227,784
April 2011 7.3% 224,164
March 2011 7.4% 225,655
February 2011 7.4% 227,057
January 2011 7.4% 225,983
REPUBLICAN: + 0.2% +8,453 more people unemployed under Walker.
Unemployment increase +0.2% during Walker. Walker not only stopped the progression of job building in Wisconsin but he hurt the economy even more by increasing the number unemployed. Walker lost thousands of jobs during his time in office.
July 2010 8.2% 249,104
August 2010 8.0% 244,440
September 2010 7.9% 239,961
October 2010 7.7% 235,380
November 2010 7.6% 231,152
December 2010 7.5% 227,684
DEMOCRAT: -0.7% -21,420 less people unemployed.
Unemployment dropped -0.7% during the Democrat Governor prior to WalkerPosted by Andy Adams on 2011-08-07 18:53:12

Brian Spa, this should not need saying, but:
While disagreeing with what our writers have to say is fine, personally insulting them or other users is not, and will lead to comments being removed and ultimately to user accounts being banned.Posted by Joe Macaré on 2011-08-02 10:38:54

Wow, there comes the Liberals! I personally won't discuss race, it is irrelevant. I know progressives see them as an underclass, as you prove in your post; I do not. Funny, I used exaggeration for fun, yet you Lefies try to prove points with logical fallacies!
So, Republicans are manipulating a district (yeah, Democrats have not been doing that forever) but keeping those teachers? Does that mean Republicans see them as super-rich, too?
All this recall effort, yet removing the collective bargaining from public Unions is working EXCEEDINGLY well. We probably should mention that, that is a true fact. Milwaukee was one unfortunate area that used collective bargaining under the wire and lost many teaching jobs. Of course, the teachers were asked if they wished to contribute to their plans, thus returning some teachers to work. Unfortunately, most teachers instead said no, choosing to screw their friends and colleagues and leave them unemployed. Yeah, it wasn't about the money, blah, blah. Look, who in the end, screwed the kid's instead of contributing toward their own retirement like most of America does. Plus, they are the worst teachers outside of the Third World!
One thing is clear... Progressives cannot be taught.Posted by Brian Spa on 2011-08-02 08:16:09

>>In one of the hottest and most closely-watched recall elections (in a northern Milwaukee suburban area that includes many of the area’s super-rich as well as teachers and other public employees and an African-American neighborhood)<<
okay, i read it again. i actually DID notice it the first time--but also noted that it says it INCLUDES many of the "super-rich," not that ALL of the "super-rich" live there. i also was aware of the "as well as" part of the sentence.
your use of the word "only"--"He comes out and says only the super-rich...can afford to live there"--is a complete fabrication.
there actually ARE areas where the "super-rich" "mingle" with "the rest of us." especially in voting districts, where population composition can change drastically in a matter of a mile or even blocks.
nowhere does the reporter conflate or attempt to conflate the "super-rich" and "teachers and public employees." only you did that. and you very conveniently left out the "African-American neighborhood."
no, i'm not saying that "African-Americans" can't be "super-rich." but i live in wisconsin and i'm pretty darn sure there isn't a whole neighborhood of "super-rich" "African-Americans" in milwaukee.
so....are you subtly trying to say that "African-Americans" are "super-rich"? or are you subtly trying to say that "African-Americans" are "average Joe Workers"?
or are you not subtly at all ignoring the entire "African-American neighborhood" in milwaukee to bolster your belief that this is a district filled entirely with "super-rich" folk, which means the public employees who live there are "super-rich"?
"mentally defective"
glass houses and all that, brian.Posted by colbey no on 2011-08-01 21:54:16

In the uber-liberal In These Times, mentally defective Progressive reporter Roger Bybee is talking about the race against Alberta Darling. In his report he says about the area "In one of the hottest and most closely-watched recall elections (in a northern Milwaukee suburban area that includes many of the area’s super-rich as well as t...eachers and other public employees...."
Read that again. He comes out and says only the SUPER-RICH and TEACHERS/PUBLIC EMPLOYEES can afford to live there! So, while public employees can afford it, the average Joe Worker can not! Is this not admitting that these people are ROBBING the taxpayer and becoming extremely wealthy due to the collective bargaining power they had? Now they want to fight back to overturn the law to keep the money flowing in? There you have it, fleecing the tax payer in hoped of joing the "super-rich".Posted by Brian Spa on 2011-08-01 20:47:11

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